I will be the first to admit that I don’t have the food waste in our home under control, but I am writing this as a reminder to myself to stay committed to cutting down on food waste. My hope this will be useful for you too. Did you know that a shocking 1.4 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year? According to the UNEP (UN Environmental Programme), households alone are wasting one billion meals every day.
Here are nine easy ways that I use to cut down on food waste in our home. What have I left out? Let me know.
Clean Out The Fridge & Freezer Regularly
You may have some delicious frozen things in your freezer that you have forgotten about. Or perhaps, like me, you have gathered 10 bottles of olives in your fridge that you weren’t even aware of. It’s easy to forget about frozen leftovers or accumulate ingredients. In an ideal world we should all do a quick cleanout & wipe down your fridge every week. A thorough clean-out is needed every three months so that you can take stock of what you have, avoid duplicate items & use up food before it expires.
Start Composting
Did you know that fruit, vegetables, milk & bread are the most wasted food items in a home? In March 2024, we started composting (in our home) & knowing that my kitchen waste is going back into the soil as nutrition gives me such peace of mind. Unfortunately, not all food waste can be avoided, but composting fruit & vegetable scraps can significantly reduce landfill waste & provide nutrient-rich soil for plants. Ground coffee is also an excellent addition to your compost heap. It contains potassium, nitrogen & phosphorus which are both really great for the soil & plants.
Pickle, Freeze, Preserve
The abundance of seasonal produce can sometimes become overwhelming. I love to make the most of all the seasonal deliciousness & preserve excess fruit & vegetables. The best way to enjoy seasonal flavors all year round is to pickle, freeze, make jams & sauces.
Plan & Prep Meals
Meal prep & planning is not only for fitness junkies & slimmers. It is also for savers & sensible eaters. Planning meals for the week ahead helps you to buy only what you need, preventing impulse purchases & excess food that may go uneaten. A well-thought-out shopping list also ensures that you purchase only the necessary ingredients instead of having loads of items that will spoil over time.
A well-organized shopping list keeps your pantry and fridge stocked efficiently.
Grow Your Own & Eat Seasonal
Having a vegetable garden means fresh, homegrown produce at your fingertips. When you grow your food, you naturally become more conscious of what’s in season. You may even be reducing your reliance on store-bought items plus you cut down on food waste. Chef Chris Erasmus says that those who grow their own food become hyperfocused on not wasting a single part of a vegetable!
Store Food Properly
It is really important to learn how to store different types of food correctly to extend their freshness. For example, keep fruits & vegetables in the right compartments of your fridge & store dry goods in airtight containers. Practice First In, First Out (FIFO) which simply just means you arrange your fridge & pantry so that older food items are in the front & newer ones in the back. This encourages you to use up older items before they expire.
Use Leftovers Creatively
Leftovers don’t have to be boring! Transform them into new meals, such as using roasted vegetables in soups or blending overripe fruits into smoothies. Sometimes you need to have an eat-the-fridge empty kind of a day. Unpack all (fresh) leftovers & plate whatever cold meat, fruit, vegetables & condiments that has been sitting in the fridge for a long long time. See it as a fridge emptying feast!
Share or Donate Extra Food
Unfortunately, there are far too many people in South Africa who are jobless & hungry…. Even if you are in a country with no unemployment, then consider sharing large quantities or excess food with friends, neighbours or family members. If you have excess food, consider sharing it with friends, neighbours or family members.
Rethink ‘Food Scraps’
It’s time to rethink all the peels & bits of vegetables that we cut away. How about cooking the outer leaves of your cauliflowers? When last did you have some (air) fried potato skins? Why not turn stale bread into bread crumbs? Turn an abundance of tomatoes into delicious freezer pasta sauces. A little creativity can turn potential waste into delicious meals.
I am very excited to continue with these simple habits. Thank you for reading along dear friend.
Yolandi ♥